Bangkok has slipped from its top post in the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index this year, mainly due to the recent political chaos.

Demonstrators crammed Bangkok streets for several months from late last year till May. At the height of this turmoil, many countries issued travel advisories informing their citizens to avoid unnecessary trips to Thailand.

According to the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index 2014, the number of international visitors in Bangkok fell by 11 per cent to about 16.4 million. London, meanwhile, enjoyed eight-per-cent growth. Attracting an estimated 18.7 million foreigners, London now sits at the top of the list while the 2013 champion Bangkok ended with the No 2 spot.

The number of international visitors to Bangkok was 10.4 million in 2010, 13.8 million in 2011, and 15.8 million in 2012. When this figure touched 18.46 million in 2013, Bangkok became the first Asian city to claim the world's No 1 spot.

The other cities in the top five were Paris (15.6m), Singapore (12.5 million) and Dubai (11.95 million).